Transkribus
Transkribus is an AI-powered platform for text recognition, transcription and searching of historical documents – from any place, any time, and in any language
Transkribus requires some effort and there's a learning curve. It isn't instantaneous and you should expect imperfect results, but it can save you time and effort. Start with free TranskribusLite.
Teach yourself to read handwriting
Selected web guides:
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Scripts from Brigham Young University has guides and tutorials to handwriting from a variety of historical time periods and places
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Paleography Toolkit from Notre Dame; focuses mostly on Western European historical scripts.
- Archives, museums, and organizations sometimes create aids to interpreting handwriting. Examples:
- Paleography: Reading Old Handwriting (British National Archives)
- Curso de Paleografico Latina de Hispanoamericana
Facsimiles (reproduced manuscripts):
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Facsimiles of manuscripts published as books are useful for practicing, especially if they include transcriptions. Search a library catalog by country and the term facsimile.
Representative manuals published as books:
Palaeography for Historians by Call Number: Uris Library A.D. White Z106.5.G7 M37 2004 +ISBN: 9781860770722Publication Date: 2004A guide to understanding and translating Latin and medieval texts in England.
English Handwriting, 1400-1650Call Number: Uris Library Oversize Z115.E5 P74x 1992 ++ISBN: 0866980865Publication Date: 1992A practical handbook to reading documents.
Manuel de Paleographie FrancaiseCall Number: Uris Library A.D. White Z115.F7 B834 2016ISBN: 9782251693026Publication Date: 2016- 古文書くずし字見わけかたの極意 / Komonjo kuzushiji miwakekata no gokuiCall Number: Kroch Library Asia PL528 .A28 2013Publication Date: 2013A manual on Japanese cursive writing.
Arabic Manuscripts: A Vademecum for ReadersPublication Date: 2009Arranged alphabetically by subject and/or concept, the present handbook has been conceived, for convenience sake and quick reference, as an aid to researchers. A companion volume to The Arabic Manuscript Tradition(2001) and its Supplement (2008).
Teach Yourself PalaeographyCall Number: on orderPublication Date: 2022Focused on Great Britain. Taking the form of a series of graded exercises in transcription, it works backwards in time from the modern handwriting of the nineteenth century in easy stages to the 'court hands' of the medieval period.
Read Cursive FastCall Number: Olin Library LB1590 .G52 2020Publication Date: 2020This carefully paced manual includes step-by-step instruction along with fun practice reading passages and historical documents that systematically teach you to read cursive.
